Indicating means for fastener-tape-sewing machines



L. ROSEMAN Jan. 7, 1930.

INDICATIIIG [BANS FOR FASTENER TAPE SEWING )IACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet v NVENTOR. .Zeolf'osemww,

Filed May 1;. 1928 2 &IM

A TTORNEY L. ROSEMAN 1,742,222

INIHCATING MEANS FOR FASTEHER TAPE SEWING IAGHINES Jan. 7, 1930.

Filed May 11, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Patented 1.5. 1, 1930 LEO BO SEHAN, OI NEWARK, NEW JERSEY INDICATIH G MEANS FOB.FASTENER-TAPE-SEWING MACHINES Application filed Kay 11,

g This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines adapted for stitching fas tener tape, such as hook or eye tape, to garments; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a means for visiblyindicating the stitch progress of such tapes past the sewing point or needles of the machine.

Inthe operation of stitching fastener tape,

havingmetallic hooks or eyes attached thereto, to garments, it is a great advantage to the operator to have some means for indicating the stitch by stitch progress of the tape and its fasteners past the sewing point or needles of the machine, not only to the end that the operator may be assured at all times of the proper running of the tape, and proper positioning of the fasteners on the meeting edges of the garment to which the tape is applied, but also to the end that the tape may be so started with reference to each garment that the first fastener element is accurately spaced relative to the upper edge or top of the garments and consequently proper spacing or positioning of the remaining fastener elements between the ends or top and bottom of the garment is assured, all. whereby cooperating fasteners on the meeting edges of a garment opening are accurately disposed in opposed relation so as to furnish a smooth well matched closure of such meeting edges. This invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide visible indicating means in connectlon with sewing machines for the general purposes above outlined.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved indicating means adapted to move synchronously with the tape as the latter progresses the sewing point, and the movement of which may be observed with reference to a suitable fixed marker orindicator point.

The invention has for a further object to provide anovel arrangement-and construction of movable indicating means which may be actuated either directly by the movement of the fastener tape itself as it progresses to the sewing point, or. by the timed transmis-' sion mechanism through which the progressive feeding of the tape to the sewing point is which cooperates with an 1928. Serial No. 276,904.

attained, as may be desirable or convenient 1n any given case.

Other objects of thisinvention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following de- 5 tailed description of the same.

.The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an indicating means illustratin one embodiment of the 60 instant invention in which the same is driven by the progressive-movement of hook fastener tape; Fig. 2 is a top or plan-view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same; and Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the driving roller arranged to cooperate with hook tape.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of an indicating means illustrating another embodiment of the instant invention in which the same is driven by the progressive movement of eye fastener tape; Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively detail side elevations of driving rollers arranged to cooperate with eye tape.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of an indicating means illustrating another embodiment of the instant invention in which the same is driven synchronously by and with the power transmission of the tape feeding and control means of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of an indicator wheel equipped with selectively adjustable stitch indicator device; Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10-10 in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a 35 modified arrangement of the selectively adjustable stitch indicator device in connection with the circumferential periphery of the indicator wheel.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referrin first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the reference 0 aracter 20 indicates the bed plate of a sewing machine having the usual head 21 carrying the reciprocating needle-bar 22 suitable type of work-feeding mechanism not shown) which forms an essential and customary part of the v sewing mechanism, The indicating mechanism comprises a bearing bracket 23 suitably secured on the bed plate in connection with the front side thereof. Said bracket 23 is rovided with longitudinally aligned bearmg portions 24 and 25 in and between which is ournaled a shaft 26. Fixed on the shaft 26, so as to be aligned with the path of movement of fastener tape to be progressively fed toward and past the sewing mechanism of the machine, is a tape engaged roller 27. Said roller 27 is provided in its circumferential surface with depressions or pockets 28 corresponding in spaced apart relation and size to the projecting portions 29 of metallic hook fasteners 30 with which a hook tape 31 is furnished, in such manner that the projecting portions 29 will engage in said depressions or pockets 28 when the hook tape 31 is fed face downward over the roller and thence over the bed-plate 20 to and past the sewing mechanism of the machine. Such engagement of the hook tape 31 will cause the roller to rotate when the tape is fed forward by the work-feeding mechanism of the machine.

J The hook tape 31 being fed face downward so that the garment may be applied over the same and sewn thereto with the hook portions exposed on the face of the finished work, it is desirable to provide a clearance channel 32 in the bed-plate 20 intermediate the roller 27 and sewing mechanism of the machine.

Connected with the bearing portion 25 is an u wardly off-set bearing member 33 in whic is journaled a spindle 34, said spindle being in inter-geared relation to said shaft 26 soas to be driven thereby. Fixed on said spindle 34 is an indicator wheel 35 suitably graduated or calibrated according to the number of stitches to be formed across and between successive hook fasteners 30 when stitching the tape to a garment. The size of and number of hook engageable recesses in the roller 27 taken" with a proper geared relation of the shaft 26 and spindle 34 is predetermined so that the indicator wheel will make one revolution during the sewing of each set of stitches to be sewn across and between successive hook fasteners of the tape. For example, if the feeding of the hook tape is so predetermined and controlled as to produce twelve stitches across and between successive hook fasteners of the tape, then the roller 27 may be properly sized to furnish four depressions or pockets 28 spaced around its circumference at distance corresponding to the distances or spacing between the hook fasteners of the tape so that the roller will make a quarter turn during the movement required of the tape to advance one hook past the sewing mechanism and the succeeding hook up to the sewing point, and consequentl the geared relation of the spindle 34 to the shaft 26 should be four to one, that is spindle 34- (and the indicating wheel 35) should make one revolution in each ouarter turn of the shaft 26. To this end the shaft 26 is provided with a large gear 36 to mesh with a small pinion 37 on the spindle 34, relatively sized so that when the ear 36 makes one revolution the pinion 3 will make four revolutions. It Will be obvious that the ratios may be variously altered so long as the final result attained is that the indicator wheel makes one complete revolution during the formation of each group of stitches of desired number extending across and between successive hook fasteners of thetape.

Fixed in a stationary position adjacent to said indicating wheel 35 is a marker or fixed indicator 38 to cooperate with and with reference to which the calibrations of the indicating wheel are read.

Inasmuch as fastener tapes are fed from bulk, that is from reels containing a considerable yardage thereof, means may be provided to guide and control the proper movement of the fastener tape to and over the roller 27. For this purpose I provide in connection with bearing bracket 23 and its forward bearing 24 a depending arm 39 having at its lower extremity a bearing 40 to support a journal stud 41 on which is rotatably mounted a grooved guide roller 42 having a clearance channel 43 for the projecting portions 29 of the hooks of the tape. To further aid in guiding and keeping the tape in proper alignment as it moves to the roller 27 I may provide in connection with the arm 39 a guide plate 44 disposed intermediate the roller 27 and the guide roller 42. Said guide plate 44 is also furnishedwith a clearance channel 45 for the projecting portions 29 of the hooks of the tape.

In operation, as the tape is progressively moved over the roller 27 under the impulsion of the feed mechanism of the machine, the projecting portions 29 of the hooks by their engagement with the depressions or pockets 28 of the roller 27 will cause the latter to rotate, this rotative movement being transmitted to the indicator wheel, so that the operator can at all times tell just which stitch of the group thereof extending across and between successive hook fasteners of the tape is being made. This is of very considerable advantage inasmuch as the hooks lie face down so that they are concealed from view, and also because the garment also overlies the tape at the sewing point thereby concealing the tape at said point. Furthermore, the operator can tell, without necessity of seeing the tape just where to start a garment to dispose the first hook at a desired distance from the garment edge. The.operator will know, e. g., that to space the first hook there should be a iven' number of stitches made before the'stitc'hes which traverse the first hook are reached, and can, before starting the arment, run the machine to the desired stitc number as indicated by the indicating wheel thereupon stopping the machine for insertion of garment at sewing point after which the machine may be started and the proper running of the tape with desired spacing of its hooks along the garment edge attained. To further aid the operator in the garment starting operations, as above described. 1 may provide the indicating wheel 35 with a selectivetv adjustable given stitch indicator device of the general character shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive of the drawings. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 this device may consist in an annular guide channel 46, preferably having undercut side walls, which is formed in a face of the indicating wheel 27. In this channel is slidably mounted an adjusting block 47 having an exteriorly projecting threaded shank 48 upon which is mounted a lock nut 49. If. for example, the

' operator is working with garments the spacing of the first hook ofwhich should require the garment to be inserted at the 5th stitch, then the operator adjusts the block 47 in the groove until the lock nut 49 is registered with the indicating calibration or mark corresponding to said 5th stitch, and the lock nut 49 is then tightened. When thus arranged the operator can tell at a glance when the indicator shows the 5th stitch position by reason of the projecting lock nut 49 registering with the'stationary marker 38, and can more conveniently stop the machine at such point for the insertion of the garment. The selective stitch indicator may be adjusted to cooperate with any desired stitch indication of the entire group as circumstances may warrant. It 1nay"be desirable to have the selective stitch indicator located on the periphery of the indicator wheel 27 instead of on a side face thereof this is shown in Fig. 11 in which the channel 46 is provided in the circumferential face of the wheel with the block 47 slidably adjustable therein, and with the shank 48 and cooperating lock nut 49 projecting radially therefrom.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings, I have shown a. modification of the indicating means of this invention as it may be arranged to cooperate with eye fastener tape. In this arrangement I substitute for the roller 27 above described, a roller 27 adapted to engage with the projecting metal loops 50 of the eye tape 51. In other respects the construction is substantially the same as already described as is evidenced by the application in Fig. 5 of corresponding reference numerals. In Fig. 5, however, I have shown the tape guiding roller 42 and guide plate 44 omitted, and the tape is shown as supplied from an overhead reel. One form-of the roller 27 is shown in Fig. 6 in which the circumj ferential face thereof is formed with an an- These sockets will receive the engagement therein of the loops 50 of the eye tape in suchmanner as to transmit the movement of the tape to the roller, as will be obvious. In Fig. 7 I have shown another modification. of the roller 27 in which I provide projections 54 on the circumferential face thereof which will enter the loops 50 ofthe eye tape so that the movement of the latter may be transmitted therethrough to the roller 27. In general, the mode of operation and advantages of the thus modified indicating means are the same as already above described.

, I have found that in some types of fastener tape sewing machines the indicating means may beactuated by the timed transmission mechanism through which the progressive controlled feeding of the tape to the sewing point is attained. This is shown in a general way in Fig. 8 of the drawings, wherein the indicator wheel 35 is fixed to the tape feed control transmission shaft 55 which is driven from the main shaft 56 of the machine through the worm 57 and worm gear 58, in the manner heretofore set forth in detail in my copending application for United States Letters Patent No. 249,028, filed January 24th, 1928. In this type of machine the movement and progress of the tapeto and 1 past the sewing point of the machine is accurately controlled by the feed control mechanism, and-consequently the movement of the indicating wheel 35 will be accurately synchronized with the stitch-forming operation of the sewing mechanism since said indicating wheel is directly operated by the same transmission which actuates the tape feed and control means.

It will be obvious that many changes could be made in the above constructions and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as i1- lustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In fastener tape sewing machines adapted to' produce a group of stitches of predetermined number extending across and between successive fasteners of the tape, an indicating wheel graduated to correspond to the predetermined number of stitches in each group thereof, a marker adjacent to said wheel and with reference to which the graduations thereof are read, and means whereby said wheel is rotated in synchronism with the stitch-forming progress of the fastener tape.

2. In fastener tape sewing machines adapted to produce a group of stitches of predetermined number extending across and between successive fasteners of the tape, an indicating wheel graduated to correspond to the predetermined number of stitches in each group thereof, a stationary marker adjacent to said wheel and with reference to which the graduations thereof are read, an adjustable marker on said wheel selectively 'movable into registration with any given stitch indication of said wheel, and means whereby said wheel is rotated in synchronism with the stitch-forming progress of the fastener tape.

3. In fastener tape sewing machines adapted to produce a group of stitches of predetermined number extending across and between successive fasteners of the tape, an indicating wheel graduated to correspond to the predetermined number of stitches in each group thereof, a stationary marker adjacent to said wheel and with reference to which the graduations thereof are read, and means actuated by the movement of the tape to the sewing point for operating said indicating wheel.

4. In fastener tape sewing machines adapted to produce a group of stitches of predetermined number extending across and between successive fasteners of the tape, an indicating wheel graduated to correspond to the predetermined number of stitches in each grou thereof, a stationary marker adjacent to said wheel and with reference to which the graduations thereof are read, anadjustable marker on said wheel selectively movable into registration with my given stitch indication of said wheel, and means actuated by the movement of the tape to the sewing point for o eratin said indicating wheel- 5. ndicatmg means for fastener tape sewing machines, comprising a roller having a surface to conform to the external projections of the fastener tape and over whic the latter moves to the sewing point of the machine, a shaft on which said roller is mounted, bearing supports for said shaft, a graduated indicating wheel, means for rotatably'mounting said wheel, transmission means operated by said shaft to drive said indicating wheel, and a stationary marker with which said wheel cooperates.

6. Indicating means for fastener tape sewing machine, comprising a roller having a surface to conform to the external rojections of the fastener tape and over which the latter moves to the sewin point of the machine, a shaft on which sai roller is mounted, hearing supports for said shaft, a graduated indicatin wheel, means for rotatably mounting said wheel, transmission means operated by said shaft to drive said indicating wheel, a stationary marker with which said wheel cooperates, and an adjustable marker on said wheel selectively movable into registration with any given graduation thereof.

7. Indicating means for fastener tape sewing machines, comprising, a roller having a surface to conform to the external rojections of the fastener tape and over whic the latter moves to the sewing point of the machine, a rotatably mounted graduated indicatin wheel, a stationary marker with which sai wheel cooperates, and transmission means intermediate said roller and indicating wheel whereby the movement of the former is transmitted to the latter.

8. Indicating means for fastener tape sewmg machines, comprising, a roller having a surface to conform to the external projections of the fastener tape and over which the latter moves to the sewing point of the machine, a rotatably mounted graduated indicatin wheel, a stationary marker with which sai wheel cooperates, and transmission means intermediate said roller and indicating wheel whereby the movement of the former is transmitted to the latter, and an adjustable marker on said wheel selectively movable into registration with any given graduation thereof.

, In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of May, 1928.

' 1 LEO ROSEMAN. 

